The Stuff

CD box sets were “da shit” back in the early 1990s. Back then, I worked in the CD department of a local electronics store (hint: Nobody Beat them — yeah right), and we would sell tons of CD box sets — literally tons of them. Come Christmas time we would pile the Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Metallica, Sinatra, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Yes, and Elvis boxes half way to the ceiling and people would buy them by the arm load. The Sinatra box sets cost $200 - $350 depending on the set, and people still bought them. Italian grandmothers would roll up to the counter, peel off a 1/4 inch thick wad of Benjamins and buy them all. Times have changed, and now people have moved onto iPods, DVDs, and then video games (and Sirius satellite radios I suppose). CD boxes sets, like CD roms, Grunge and raves, were a 1990s thing.

Some box sets came with odd packaging. The Aerosmith boxed set had a match for a handle, which invariably broke off within moments after purchase — I can’t tell you how many of those that were returned. The Misfits released a box set in the shape of a coffin. The Wax Trax! boxed set was made of steel. I had a Pink Floyd live box that had a flashing red led on the side (why???) There were plenty of other gimmicks like holograms (all down hill since the hologram skull on the cover of National Geographic), but nothing so clever or exciting to prevent you from tossing the box in the trash the day after Christmas, like a worthless empty pizza box.

Anyway, CDs are now retro, and CD box sets are the new vinyl. That said, someone has managed to create a boxed set that is so creative, you actually might keep it. The WOMEN TAKE BACK THE NOISE compilation boxed set isn’t even a box; it’s a clear vinyl purse thing with a bent circuit dealie that makes noise when you touch it. It also comes with trading cards of the musicians. Now that is unusual. The music is unusual too; it’s noise music performed by women. You know, like the far out stuff they play on WFMU.

Here’s a video of what it looks like: